A year ago, I experienced a double-whammy of wonderful- I enjoyed the best day of my life at the best festival I’ve been to. And I am not using “best” relatively. It simply was. And now, that event is upon us again. Raindance Music and Arts Festival will be held on August 2nd through the 5th on the Yuba River, just a few hours from San Francisco. From where I am, it’s a 6-hour drive. My jalopy might not make it, so I’m renting a car. I can’t chance breaking down on the side of a breathtakingly scenic mountain road and missing a minute of this party. I got plans.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all got plans. You wanna make the gods laugh? Tell them your plans. For real though, I do have some plans. I know I cannot re-create my Raindance Campout of last year. I am not expecting to top my best day ever. However, I am embarking on a new journey; I intend to create an interactive multi-indulgent experience called “Bacchanalia Cove.”
On the shores of the river during the day, I will be fanning people with a giant reed-woven leaf. I will feed them grapes. And brie. And olives. I will pour delectable libations down the 21&over throats. I haven’t decided exactly what yet, but champagne and strawberry nectar is calling to me. I have a small reed-woven leaf that is perfect for fanning people while dancing, which I expect to do alot of.
Yes, a ton of dancing, because not only is the lineup excellent (Random Rab, Pumpkin, Bluetech, Mr.Rogers, J.Phlip, Love & Light, Dub Kirtan All Stars… The list goes on) but Raindance Presents’ Little John holds his events down house-heavy and spares no expense on sound systems (think Funktion-1). In addition to the headliners, I’m especially looking forward to sets from Mihkal, Mozaic, Subsonic Drops, Smash & Grab, Mozaic, Majitope, Smasheltooth, Leafygreen, Nico Luminous, and Little John himself (an 808-aficionado).
In addition to floating in the cool mountain river and twinkle-toeing to the tunes, a sturdy schedule of workshops are available all weekend. Herbal walks, tincture-making, Jedi self-discovery, at least 4 different modes of yoga, Qi Gong, and lots of other personally enriching options are being offered.
Tickets are available online or at a few locations- Streetlight Records 939 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, CEIBA 1364 Haight St, San Francisco, CA, Briar Patch Coop 290 Sierra College Dr, Grass Valley, CA – CASH ONLY, low or no service charge!!! They’re also available online HERE.
RANDOM RAB * OM UNIT (UK) * BREACH (UK, Dirtybird)
BLUETECH * EPROM * RUSS LIQUID * VIBESQUAD * ANDRELIEN * FREQ NASTY
RENA JONES * THUGFUCKER * GLADKILL * DUB KIRTAN ALLSTARS * KAMINANDA * J.PHLIP (DIRTYBIRD) * LIBERATION MOVEMENT * LOVE & LIGHT * PUMPKIN * QUADE * MR. ROGERS * NOMINUS * INDASKYES * EL PAPA CHANGO
ANTACID * VNDMG * BALANCE * LE PORTAL * MIHKAL * JOBOT * EVAN MARC * KITTY-D * NANDA * DOV * DANNY CORN * SMASHELTOOTH * GENO COCHINO * THE BLACK 22’s * MAJITOPE * SASHA ROSE * NICO LUMINOUS * POM (FIVE POINTS) * HYPNOTECH * NEPTUNE * CELLO JOE * TONY IN ORBIT * SPEKTRUM * BUCKNER * DABIS * SKULLTRANE * ALABASTER KANE * SATSI SONIC * IRIEYES * LEAFYGREEN * R-KIDZ * QUESTION ? * SMASH & GRAB * MITCHY MANITAU * JOCELYN * CHRISTAFARI * MERCEDES JAYA * DIVA DANIELLE * BOB V * EVERYMAN * AFRO Q BEN * G.A.M.M.A. * L.B. * SUBSONIC DROPS
RAINDANCE FAMILY DJ’s
BROTHER * DIGITAL HONEY * LITTLE JOHN * THE PIRATE * ROB MONROY
MOZAIC * DAX * STRIDAH
Raindance Events Facebook Group
And here are some sets from featured artists to tide you over!